The Real Reason Why You Are Bloated

Are you constantly feeling tired, run down and sluggish due to feeling bloated all the time? It’s a horrible feeling and sometimes it can be caused by things we never expected! Below I have outlined some of the potential reasons you are experiencing a blown-up, bulging belly.

Salt OverloadIt is no secret that adding salt to your food makes it taste good. While our bodies do need a small amount of salt every single day, having too much in your diet can cause your body to hold onto more water. This can leave us feeling a little puffier than normal - who wants that?! If you’re serious about beating the bloat, try and avoid foods high in salt! To do this, I recommend eating wholefoods as much as you can and avoiding those that are highly processed.VegetablesBelieve it or not, eating large amounts of beans, cauliflower, broccoli, cabbage and brussel sprouts could be the cause of your unwanted bloating. This is because these vegetables contain a sugar that is really hard for our bodies to break down on its own, so we need to call upon the good bacteria in our gut to help! These bacteria can produce a gas called methane, which can leave us feeling bloated and irritable. This does not mean that you should avoid these vegetables completely! Next time you doing the grocery shopping, try and select a large variety of vegetables and include some dark, leafy greens such as spinach and kale.

Chewing GumChewing gum can be your stomach’s worst nightmare. This is because it can cause your stomach to prepare itself for food, yet all it receives is air. Oh and did I forget to mention how hard your stomach has to work to break down the artificial sweeteners in chewing gum? So this combined with the action of eating gum could potentially result in that horrible bloating feeling.

DairyFeeling bloated after your morning coffee, your bowl of oats or your smoothie? It could be because your body doesn’t cope well with dairy very well, which is also known as lactose intolerance. This can mean that your body lacks the enzyme that is needed to break down the sugar found in dairy foods. As a result of your body struggling to break it down, gas and bloating can result. So to avoid this, try and find lactose free alternatives, such as rice or almond milk that have added calcium.

Below I have created a list of foods that have anti-bloating potassium and fibre to help you banish the bloat!